GAC - Child with cancer

[suzeo99]

We went to Disney with Make a Wish 2 years ago. My son (now 6) had the blue button and didn't have to wait in line.

Unfortunately his cancer came back and this time treatment has failed.

We have decided to take a trip back to WDW while he can still ride all the rides and enjoy himself.

For now, he feels pretty well. He does have hip and leg pain if he walks or stand for too long, but to look at him you would think he was a little skinny and pale but not necessarily dying of cancer.

So - I am going to have his oncologist write a letter but from what I read here they may not even want to read it.

His need is twofold - not to stand in long lines for the sake of his hip but also because, darn it, he should have to spend any of his time standing in lines.

So - what should I say to the GAC person? (my son will be standing there with me so I can't say EVERYTHING

Thanks

Susan

 

[Momof-3]

We went to Disney with Make a Wish 2 years ago. My son (now 6) had the blue button and didn't have to wait in line.

Unfortunately his cancer came back and this time treatment has failed.

We have decided to take a trip back to WDW while he can still ride all the rides and enjoy himself.

For now, he feels pretty well. He does have hip and leg pain if he walks or stand for too long, but to look at him you would think he was a little skinny and pale but not necessarily dying of cancer.

So - I am going to have his oncologist write a letter but from what I read here they may not even want to read it.

His need is twofold - not to stand in long lines for the sake of his hip but also because, darn it, he should have to spend any of his time standing in lines.

So - what should I say to the GAC person? (my son will be standing there with me so I can't say EVERYTHING

Thanks

Susan

Susan,


I'm so sorry to hear about your son. My heart and prayers go out to you. My son had Ewings Sarcoma when he was 8 and was on treatment for 2 full years. He has problems but his cancer has not come back as of yet.

I would just explain to the GAC person a little bit about your son. We did that on our last trip, as my son was not able to walk and stand for long periods of time. They gave him a card for all of us....no questions asked. Also I think (from what I remember when we went with Make A Wish) you should be in their system. My son was....and they issued the card for us. Did you stay at GTW....and if so...are you going back for a visit? We are this time around. That is a wonderful place.

I hope you and your son have a wonderful trip. I wish you all the best and if you would like to talk....PM me anytime.

Alicia

 

[Charleyann]

My son has a life threatening / terminal illness . There is no problems getting a GAC for these children. We went to Disney with Children's Wish Foundation. After that I vowed I would get him back again. We have gone twice since his wish and plan on going again this coming Christmas if his health permits....


Disney didn't even ask to see his documentation from Childrens hospital. The GAC was stamped to provide any help possible help and alternate entrance. It was stamped green, so my son wouldn't have to wait even in line for charactor meets!

Disney is wonderful to these kids. They told me, they love to see them make a another trip and another.....

God Bless and enjoy your trip!

Charleyann

 

[SueM in MN]

I'm very sorry to hear about your son and hope your trip goes well.
I agree with the others.
You don't have to tell Guest Services everything, but I do think if you share some things with them, they will be able to help you. If you don't want your son to hear everything, you could write a note yourself to hand to the CM and ask them to read it (say something before handing it to them, like "Please read this. I've written something about my son's needs up because I wanted to make sure I was prepared and I prefer not to talk about his needs out loud in front of everyone."). I know other people have done that.
The reason they don't want to see the doctor's letters is that the letters are usually not that helpful in figuring out what the person needs (besides that the ADA has constraints on asking for proof of disability).

3 other suggestions:
- you may want to look into renting a stroller for him. There are links in the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of the board to places that rent special needs strollers. He will want to conserve his energy for enjoying himself, not just getting place to place. Using a stroller would help with that.

- you may want to look into Tour Guide Mike (a sponsor of the Theme Parks Board). He has a lot of information which would help you avoid the places that are busy and go where it's not busy at that time. That would help you too (even if you have a GAC) because it would be easier to negotiate the parks when it's not busy and less waits in line for things like food where the GAC is not used.

- if he gets tired and needs to rest for a while, there is a First Aid station in each park that has cots. Lying down there for a while in the cool and calm may be more restful than taking a trip back to your resort.

 

[dclfun]

I'm not sure when the policy changed, but Disney states that they will not give anyone a "front of the line pass" unless they are on a WISH trip. Per their policy if you return after your wish trip looking for the same type accomodations, they cannot provide them due to the volume of people who were requesting that same GAC on return visits. I'm not saying I agree with this at all, but this is what I was told. If I were you, I'd write to Guest Services in advance, explain the situation and your son's condition to see if an exception can be made and something special done for your son. ---Kathy

 

[cymomtx]

It is also helpful to not throw away your old GAC's and when you go the next time just present them, and they will reissue them from prior ones.

 

[SueM in MN]

It is also helpful to not throw away your old GAC's and when you go the next time just present them, and they will reissue them from prior ones.

That is a good suggestion for GACs. Although I don't know for sure, I suspect that they have the information stored in a computer. They always take DD's over to a specific computer, enter something and then come back with a new GAC.
For children who were on WISH trips, the GACs they get on the WISH trip allows front of the line access (sometimes even before other people with disabilities who are waiting). That kid of access is only given to kids on WISH trips.

 

[suzeo99]

I am disappointed to hear about the new policy. We are going tomorrow so I don't have time to write to them. I have a letter from his oncologist stating that he cannot stand for long periods of times and tires easily and so I hope that will help him at least use the wheelchair entrance. He was also given a Make a Wish button and maybe that will help?

I will report back on what happens.

Susan

 

[Cheshire Figment]

You can get a stamp and/or sticker which allows the use of a stroller as if it were a wheelchair. This will allow you to use the stroller in line.

Basically until you get there and speak to a person in Guest Relations you cannot really be sure of what you will get.

As a side note, I was in both MK and Epcot today and they were both quite empty. If you are goin tomorrow you will stil be at a very slow time and so lines will not be long. I noticed on the Epcot Tip Board that Soarin had a 40 minute Standby Line, and nothing else was close in wait times.

 

[dclfun]

Susan- If your child is going on a Wish trip ( sounds like he/she is since you were given the button) then he/she does qualify for that special benefit only given to Wish children. It just doesn't apply during a time other than the one Wish trip.---Kathy

 

[Charleyann]

I'm not sure when the policy changed, but Disney states that they will not give anyone a "front of the line pass" unless they are on a WISH trip. Per their policy if you return after your wish trip looking for the same type accomodations, they cannot provide them due to the volume of people who were requesting that same GAC on return visits. I'm not saying I agree with this at all, but this is what I was told. If I were you, I'd write to Guest Services in advance, explain the situation and your son's condition to see if an exception can be made and something special done for your son. ---Kathy

My Child is / was a "wish child" . I send Disney an email explaining my sons condition and also explained that he is not cured and still has a chronic, life threatening, terminal illness.

Here is feedback I got from them"
As far as "Wish" children are concerned, please do the same as you did
last year. Bring any documentation regarding your previous visit you
can."


I explained I had all documentation from his "Wish trip" ...He was granted a "wish to visit Disney , Seaworld and Universal Studios. While at Seaworld he fell in love with the Beluga Whale and Dolphins. He wanted to Swim with them, but he wasn't well enough. Everyone fell in love with his humor and charm and zest for life!. He was invited back to swim the Beluga Whales and swim with the dophins @Discovery Cove. While back on our trip last year he got sick and we had to rush home where he was hospitalized! He didn't get his swim with dolphins, but he will this Christmas Day....once again to finalize his long lasting wish! He is very proud of the fact that he is the youngest person to swim with Begula Whales!

My son spends about 6-8 admissions to hospital a year. He is just out of hospital today for pneumonia and bowel obstruction. He goes back in for his bowels on Monday for more invasive surgery. In six weeks he goes for sinus surgery....

These sick kids deserve all the help available to them. Their lives are consumed with invasive ,painful treatment. Disney gives them a moment of normancy, if only for a fleeting moment! Last October Disney gave us the best two weeks yet....then we went home and back in hospital.....

Good on Disney for reconizing these children!

Charleyann

 

[goofyandmore]

I am definitely keeping your son in my prayers.

I spoke to disney recently on the phone about the pass issue since the last time we went we did get a pass that wasn't helpful and then it was changed to another one. The CM told me that there should be no problem getting the right one (she basically can't stay in lines stroller or not) and that guest relations is suppose to have us fill out a questionaire to make sure we get the correct one. I'm not sure if all of this is accurate, but wanted to pass it on.

 

[SueM in MN]

I am definitely keeping your son in my prayers.

I spoke to disney recently on the phone about the pass issue since the last time we went we did get a pass that wasn't helpful and then it was changed to another one. The CM told me that there should be no problem getting the right one (she basically can't stay in lines stroller or not) and that guest relations is suppose to have us fill out a questionaire to make sure we get the correct one. I'm not sure if all of this is accurate, but wanted to pass it on.

I have not heard of them actually having you fill out a questionnaire, but they will definatley ask you a number of questions about your child's needs.

They don't give out exactly the same kind of Pass again as kids got on the Make a Wish trips. Those are actually Passes that allow front of the line access, where you bypass everyone (even other people with disabilities who are waiting in an accessible area - like for a wheelchair accessible ride car). We have been waiting to get on a number of attractions (for the wheelchair accessible car) when someone with one of the Make a Wish Passes came up and were boarded ahead of everyone else (the Safari, Small World, Jungle cruise and others). Those kind of 'immediate, go to the front of the line ahead of everyone else cards' are only given for Wish trips.

What they give out for people who are not on Wish trips are Guest Assistance Cards that have a message or messages stamped on them to let the attration CMs know how to meet the needs the person has. They will still be able to meet your child's needs, but it won't be the exact same 'go directly on' situation as a Wish trip. They will still give expedited access for people who need it; the big difference is not bypassing everyone else.

If you haven't already read it, I's suggest taking a look at the disABILTIES FAQs section about GACs.

Also, Cheshire Figment mentioned you won't really know what you will get until you speak to the CMs in Guest Relations at the park. If you have emails from Disney, I'd suggest bringing those along.

 

[dclfun]

Charleyann- Disney recognizes both adults and children with life threatening illnesses and disabilities and provides assistance to help those of us who need it to enjoy our vacation in the most approprate way possible, however as Sue mentioned, the ONLY children who get front of line immediate access are those who are currently on a WISH trip. Once the wish trip is over, they will continue to accomodate with a GAC appropriate to the needs of the person. The OP had mentioned that her child had a WISH trip and button to allow that once-in-a-lifetime special access. Her child should still be given a GAC, however according to Disney's policy, it will not be the same immediate access, WISH-GAC that is only given once. My suggestion to the OP was to see if she could write in advance to explain her child's condition to see if an exception could be made- I don't know if they make exceptions to the WISH-only pass by giving it out on another trip. That's not to say that they won't give another type GAC to help her son.---Kathy

 

[cafeolemom]

My daughter has been granted a wish and we will be going in a couple of weeks. i had been told previously that wish kids get front of the line access, but we we got our paperwork last week, it said that we can tell the workers that she is a wish child, but are not guaranteed front of the line access. It says we are not to ask for special treatment. I am a little confused. Can someone explain this to me.

 

[SueM in MN]

My daughter has been granted a wish and we will be going in a couple of weeks. i had been told previously that wish kids get front of the line access, but we we got our paperwork last week, it said that we can tell the workers that she is a wish child, but are not guaranteed front of the line access. It says we are not to ask for special treatment. I am a little confused. Can someone explain this to me.

There seems to have been a very recent change because people just started posting about it. I'm not sure why it happened.
People in the past on WISH trips did often get front of the line access, even ahead of other people with special needs who were waiting in line. I know that because we have been waiting to board things like the Safari and the Jungle Cruise and a family with WISH buttons was brought to the front of the line.

I think (but I'm not sure) that's what they are not doing any more. You will still have access that meets your needs (if you haven't already read it, look at the GAC information in the disABILITIES FAQs thread), you probably just will not be going to the very front of the line. If you are using the Fastpass lines for access, your wait in line will generally be less than 15 minutes.